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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health conditions

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Low-Income Households and Communities in North Carolina
Discusses impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on efforts to combat poverty and promote self-sufficiency in low-income communities across North Carolina. Presents excerpts from interviews with community leaders, and identifies takeaways related to the pandemic's impact on individuals, organizational strategies, partnerships and collaboration, and public health. Highlights rural communities and Black North Carolinians throughout, and covers topics including vaccination, internet access, mental health, and more. Provides recommendations for community action agencies.
Author(s): James H. Johnson Jr., Jeanne Milliken Bonds, Allan M. Parnell
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: North Carolina Community Action Association, Urban Investment Strategies Center
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Improving Behavioral Health Services for Individuals with SMI in Rural and Remote Communities
Discusses behavioral health workforce shortages in rural and remote areas and the effect this has on healthcare access for people with serious mental illness (SMI). Highlights strategies for reducing barriers to access and improve workforce retention. Provides examples of programs to improve access in various states.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: American Psychiatric Association, SMI Adviser, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Tribal HPOG 2.0 Grantees' Program Adaptations
Describes how the Tribal Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) 2.0 grantees adapted their programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses changes in program staffing, recruitment and enrollment, training, and participant supports.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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The Growing Rural-Urban Divide in US Life Expectancy: Contribution of Cardiovascular Disease and Other Major Causes of Death
Study examining rural and urban life expectancy between 1999 and 2019 based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) detailed mortality files. Offers data by sex and age on changes in life expectancy, including cause-of-death breakdowns.
Author(s): Leah R. Abrams, Mikko Myrskyla, Neil K. Mehta
Citation: International Journal of Epidemiology, 50(6), 1970-1978
Date: 08/2021
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Epidemiology of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Virginia: Excellent Survival Outcomes for Patients in Rural Appalachia
Results of a study comparing the molecular characteristics of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in rural and urban Virginia. Also evaluates the effect of geography and socioeconomic factors on the biology, treatment, and survival rate of AML patients. Features demographics with breakdowns by urban or rural location and a county-level map showing frequency of patients, with shadings indicating urban or rural area.
Author(s): Krista M. Isaac, Daniel R. Reed, Raj Piyush Desai, et al.
Citation: Cancer Reports (Hoboken), 4(4), e1354
Date: 08/2021
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"You're Going to Have to Think a Little Bit Different" Barriers and Facilitators to Using mHealth to Increase Physical Activity among Older, Rural Cancer Survivors
Study examining the potential of mobile health (mHealth) technology, specifically wearable activity trackers (WATs), to increase physical activity among rural older cancer survivors based on focus group interviews with 21 cancer survivors in New Mexico. Discusses motivation and barriers to using WATs related to peer emotional and informational support, social support, and engaging individuals with limited access to digital technologies.
Author(s): Tamar Ginossar, Heidi Rishel Brakey, Andrew L. Sussman, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), 8929
Date: 08/2021
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Implementation and Outcomes of the Balanced Living with Diabetes Program Conducted by Cooperative Extension in Rural Communities in Virginia
Shares the results of a study examining a lifestyle management program, Balanced Living with Diabetes (BLD), to address gaps in diabetes education that was implemented by Cooperative Extension System educators in rural Virginia. Includes an analysis of the BLD program outcomes in Table 2 and 3.
Author(s): Carlin Rafie, Kathy Hosig, Sophie G. Wenzel, Shelby Borowski, Kristina A. Jiles, Eleanor Schlenker
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(1), 6620
Date: 08/2021
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Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program
Recording of an August 31, 2021, webinar providing an overview of the Rural Health Clinic COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Program. Includes information on how to enroll in the program and the technical assistance available to participating providers.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Overview of Operating Room Procedures During Inpatient Stays in U.S. Hospitals, 2018
Report offering statistics on operating room (OR) procedures during 2018 using National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data. Compares OR procedure rates to overall hospital stays, examines patient characteristics including rural and metro location, and ranks the top 20 OR procedures with breakdowns by sex, age, and costliness.
Author(s): Kimberly W. McDermott, Lan Liang
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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NIHB and AAIP Webinar on Response to the Delta Variant in Tribal Communities 8/16/21
Webinar recording discusses the public health response to the COVID-19 Delta variant in tribal communities. Highlights policies like vaccine requirements, mask mandates, and other public health measures for tribal communities. Features presentations from doctors representing the White House COVID Response Team and the Association of American Indian Physicians.
Date: 08/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Association of American Indian Physicians, National Indian Health Board
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